Sun, May 3, 2026 at 11:55 AM UTC
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Deciding where to spend your golden years? This crucial decision often comes down to many factors: Proximity to family, access to healthcare, lifestyle goals and budget.
And let’s not understate the importance of that last one. Budget can supersede all other factors if one hasn’t judiciously planned for retirement. Unfortunately, not everyone was given the adequate tools to do so.
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And that’s where safety nets like Social Security can assist. According to the Social Security Administration, the average Social Security payment in 2026 is $2,071 per month — that’s a total of $24,852 annually.
While financial professionals (correctly) advocate that Social Security should be considered supplemental income rather than a primary source of income, there are some cities in America where your Social Security check can actually do the heavy lifting.
According to a recent report from GOBankingRates, here are five places you can live like a rock star on mainly just your Social Security check.
Dillon, South Carolina
Annual cost of living for a single person: $25,200
Average monthly rent: $847
Average home price: $106,175
Bristol, Tennessee
Annual cost of living for a single person: $26,400
Average monthly rent: $931
Average home price: $228,258
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Dothan, Alabama
Annual cost of living for a single person: $26,400
Average monthly rent: $923
Average home price: $199,443
Hickory, North Carolina
Annual cost of living for a single person: $28,400
Average monthly rent: $1,168
Average home price: $285,672
Fargo, North Dakota
Annual cost of living for a single person: $30,000
Average monthly rent: $924
Average home price: $310,206
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Places You Can Live Like a Rock Star on Just Your Social Security Check